Miscreants may have torched coach at CSMT

MUMBAI: A preliminary probe - into the fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon in a spare coach at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) yard, later spreading to an AC coach of the CSMT Gadag Express (Solapur Express) - has revealed the role of miscreants. The coach was to be sent to Wadi Bunder for repairs. At the time the fire broke out, the said coach was on the pit line at CSMT. Official sources said, “The area is porous and any miscreant can create a ruckus.” The CR is conducting a probe into the incident.

Official sources said that the coach was part of the Solapur Express, which was stationed at the pit line of the CSMT yard on May 27. The sick coach was uncoupled and left on the pit line. “The sick coach was expected to be taken to Wadi bunder depot for intermediate overhaul (IOH), hence all doors of the coach were locked,” said an official. Since the yard is not being monitored by the railway, miscreants may have torched the sick coach.

An officer, requesting anonymity, said, “The forensic team is also being roped in to ascertain the cause of the fire in the sick coach - whether there were inflammable substances inside the coach or not, and the report will reveal the same.”